Today I was writing a calligraphy for an upcoming exhibition in Ginza, Tokyo. It is a quite important event, and it is so for two reasons. One is that Ginza is probably the most prestigious place that pone can display his or her art, and two, the exhibition is to celebrate 50 years of teaching career of my calligraphy teacher, Master Kajita Esshuu (梶田越舟, 1938 - present). Since he dislikes exhibitions and public spectacles, it makes this event even more special.

So I wrote a few copies in "hard core" oracle bone script (甲骨文), and suddenly I decided to go bananas. I made my own semi-cursive version of 3500 years old script. And why not? It is quite interesting to mix and match the ancient script with another that evolved nearly 1500 years later.

A wise Chinese ink painter, Shi Tao (石涛 1642-1710), once said "ink and brush should follow the times". I think they just did. Master the basics, master the scripts, and let your brush take over. Calligraphy is based on strict rules, that is true, but it is an art. All the greatest handwriting styles were created by those who dared to venture into the unknown.

Poem (of my authorship, inspired by a poem by Li Bai):

Bright moon illuminated the night skies Concealed in haze of vast sea of clouds Wind that travelled a few thousand miles Fluttered my mind light as silk